School Ready

Grade R is the reception year before Grade 1. Grade R forms part of the Foundation Phase (Grade R to Grade 3), which means that Grade 1 continuous to build on the knowledge and skills they already acquired in Grade R.

We follow the curriculum guidelines as set out in the Revised National Curriculum Statement (NCS) which is prescribed by the Department of Education. We also implement the National Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), which do not replace the NCS, but give clear guidelines on planning, pacing and progression, as well as assessment requirements. Our teachers attend CAPS workshops. Assessment and assessment tasks form part of this curriculum and it means that learners are continuously assessed in an ongoing process that measures their achievements and abilities. In the Foundation Phase ( Grades R-3) the 9 learning areas/subjects (Home Language, Additional Language, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Economic and Management Science, Life Orientation, Social Science – Geography, Social Science – History, Technology) are divided into Literacy, Mathematical Skills and Life Skills and the learners are continuously assessed as they complete their themes.

A total of 4 hours and 30 minutes are allocated for teaching per day. Official school hours for the Grade R’s are therefore 08h00-12h30. At our school we catch up on any incomplete work or extra work in the afternoons. The word “outcome” means the end result of a learning area, which entails Skills, Knowledge, Attitude and Values.

Our whole child development programme in Grade R also focuses on informal, fun learning through active play. Children can choose their preferred activities, but are also encouraged to participate in specific activities in order to develop pre-determined skills. Activities are age- appropriate and sensory-based and designed to meet the child’s physical, mental, emotional social and intellectual needs. It is aimed to develop the full potential of each learner in order to create a lifelong student who is confident and multi-skilled. Progress reports are issued four times a year and an interim school readiness assessment is done in February.

Our aim is to get our Grade R’s as ready for Grade 1 as we possibly can. At our school we follow the NCS as well as CAPS, but we also offer our learners more than what is prescribed by the Department. Our aim is to make them as confident and prepared as possible, so that they can leave us as confident and as ready as they can possibly be for Grade 1.

The outcomes of Literacy are:

• Listening
• Speaking
• Reading and Viewing
• Writing
• Thinking and Reasoning
• Language structure and use

The outcomes of Mathematical Skills are:

• Numbers, Operations and Relationships
• Patterns, Functions and Algebra
• Space and Shape
• Measurement
• Data Handling

The outcomes of Life Skills are:

• Health Promotion
• Social Development
• Personal Development
• Physical Development

Weekly times allocated for the above is as follows:

• Literacy – 9 hours 10 min (109 min per day)
• Mathematics – 7 hours 30 min (90 min per day)
• Life Skills – 5 hours 50 min (70 min per day)

The outcomes of Language are:

• Stories
• Dramatisation
• Books
• Picture Reading
• Picture Discussions
• Perceptual Activities
• News
• Poems
• Music/Songs
• Theme Discussions

The outcomes of Mathematical Skills are:

• Counting Rhymes
• Songs and music activity
• Perceptual Activities
• Theme Discussions
• Free Play
• Routine

The outcomes of Life Skills are:

• Human movement activity
• Songs and music
• Poems and rhymes
• Theme Discussions
• Birthdays
• Routines
• Free Play